Outboard brake for railway car trucks



April 12, 1938. A. H. OELKERS 2,113,815

OUTBOARD BRAKE FOR RAILWAY CAR TRUCKS Filed March 7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. flified H. OeZ/cers.

AfTORNEYS.

A ril 12, 1938. A. H. OELKERS 2,113,815

OUTBOARD BRAKE FOR RAILWAY GAR TRUCKS Filed March 7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /'4z 1. 1 V g] /4- 1V5 I 34' i T.Ifi --r'' 4 H- T m f l I i :l 1 l I {I x 1 INVYENTOR. Aifred H OeiA ers.

ATTORNEYS.

April 12,, 1938. A. H. OELKERS OUTBOARD BRAKE FOR RAILWAY CAR TRUCKS Filed March 7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A/fred H g ygrs A TTORN E Y5.

Aprifi 12, 1938.

A. H. OELKERS OUTBOARD BRAKE FOR RAILWAY CAR TRUCKS Filed March 7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. Alfred H Oeikers. B \r Patented Apr. 12, 1938 2,113,815 ou-raomn 133% roa nmwar can OKS Alfred B. Oelkers, Chicago, 111., assignor to American SteelFcnndrles, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 7, 1935, Serial No. 9,705 40 (Balms. (Cl. 188-58) My invention relates to railway brake equipment and its object, generallyspeaklng, is the provision of a special form of brake for stopping or reducing the speed of railway cars by retarding the rotation of car wheels without applyin friction to that portion of the wheel which runs on the rail and carries the weight.

The usual type of braking equipment for railway ears, that is, a metallic brake shoe frictioned proper physical properties for this purpose is usually softened and otherwise damaged by the heat of brake shoe friction and often small cracks formed on the surface of the wheel develop into wheel fractures.

An object is to provide a brake of an outboard design, i. e., a design in which the brakes are located outwardly of the wheels, thus facilitating application.

and inspection of wearing parts.

Another object is to mount an auxiliary wheel or drum adjacent the usual wheel hub mounting,

thus providing a means of brake application independent of the tread portion of the wheel which is commonly used for that Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a drum or auxiliary wheel of such design and proportions as will absorb and dissipate the considerable quantities of heat energy developed when the brakes are applied, and at the same time prevent the loosening of the hub fit which otherwise might occur as such heat is'generated.

' A still further object is to design the said ouriliary wheel or drum structure so that its rim portion may be permitted to expand normally as the temperature is raised by the without impairing the original application of brakes press flt of the this invention is to ture for such brakrnalntain concentric the said drum and the shoes apthereto for braking purposes. With these and various other objects in view,

the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and out in the specification, pended hereto.

Figure l is a four-wheel truck structure,

particularly pointed drawings and claims apiragmentary side elevation of a passenger type, em-

equalized bodying the invention and showing one wheel and axle assembly thereof. Only one end of the wheel and axle assembly is shown in the drawings and only one end of the truck structure inasmuch as the truck as a whole is lei-symmetrical 5 in form and the parts not shown are symmetrical with those shown;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on substantially in the plane indicated by the line H of Figure 1 and showing in detail the method of connecting one end of the brake carrier member 10 the structure to a truck frame member:

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by the line 5-6 of Figure 1;(

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of a friction bearing design of truck to which is applied my novel form of brake equipment; and

Figure l is a vertical stantially in the plane of Figure 6.

Describing more in detail one form of structure embodying this invention, the truck side frame member 2 is one of 9, M of identical members connected by the usual bolster or hansom (not shown) upon which the weight of the car body is carried. The side frame 2 has the pedestal l ated with the journal portion of the axle t forming a t of the w and axle assembly d through a structure to be hereafter described in more detail. The truck structure shown is of a type commonly known as an truck and has the equalizer it provided at its respective ends with the arcuate bottom surface it fitting within the complementary groove it formed between the lugs it and it on the top of the journal portion it of the brake carrier it. The spring seat member la is .secured upon the equalizer it by the bolt and nut structure fit. At its inner edge the spring seat 22 has the eye 25 formed on the flange 28 protil \ viding a means of connection with the inner end of the brake carrier 2d. The usual spring til is interposed between the: equalizer spring seat 22 and the spring seat 32 integrally formed on the under side of the side frame member 2.

The wheel and axle assembly shown is a well known type of roller bearing design although the exact structure of this roller bearing wheel and axle assembly is no part of this invention because I have so designed this structin'e that it may also be used with a friction type of wheel and axle assembly. In the structure shown, the inner axle 6 has the journal portion 34 deflned outwardly by the annular collar 86 at the end of the axle and inwardly by the shoulder 38. Sleeved around the inner axle is the outer axle or housing 40 and between the two axles is mounted the roller bearing axle, generally designated at 42, which is secured in place by abutment inwardly against the shoulder 44 of the housing 40 and outwardly against the sleeve 46 which may be pressed or shrunk on the inner axle 8. The closure plate 48 seals the bearing cavity and is secured to the housing 40 by a series of bolts 50. The wheel 8 may be pressed upon the housing and secured in position thereon against the shoulder 52. An auxiliary wheel or drum 54 may be thereafter pressed upon the housing 40 and secured thereon in abutment against the wheel 8.

The auxiliary wheel or drum 54 is of the general shape of a truncated cone having the rim portion 55, the plate portion 51 and the hub portion 59. The rim. portion 55 and the hub portion 59 are of relatively heavy section and the plate portion joining them'is comparatively flexible. The result'is that when the rim portion 55 is heated up by the application of brakes and tends thereby to expand, the effect is to produce a slight flattening of this truncated cone structure. In other words, the rim portion tends to be drawn closer to the hub portion, thus flexing slightly the plate section.. If the rim and hub portions were in one plane as is the case with the wheel, proper expansion of the rim portion would result in a direct pull upon the hub portion whichwould tend to weaken its press fit on the axle;

Upon the journal portion 84 is mounted a split or two-piece bronze sleeve 58. The structural brake carrier 20 is mounted directly on the bronze sleeve 58 and performs the several functions of suspending the braking system, supporting the ends of the equalizer I in; the pocket I8 as previously described, and engaging the pedestals 4 provided at the endsi of the truck side frame 2. A wear surface is provided on the inner face of the column 4 at 58, hearing against the wearface 80 provided on the member 20 and these two surfaces may be lubricated through the opening or cgiidult 82 leading from the lubricant chamber Pedestal engaging flanges 65 on the brake carrier 20 serve to transmit lateral forces from the side frame 2 to the inner axle 8 through contact with the flanges 28 on the sleeve 58. The brake carrier 20 is secured in position over the sleeve I0 by a clamping cap 10 which is secured by the bolt and nut assemblies 12 and I4. The inner .end of the brake carrier 20 is secured to the equalizer I0 through the medium of the spring seat member 22 by a structure shown in detail in Figure 4.

The eye 16 is formed in the end of the brake carrier 20 in vertical alignment with the eye 28 of the spring seat member 22; and the members 20 and 22 are secured together by the bolt and nut assembly 18. Resiliency in the connection is provided by heavy rubber washers 80 secured on either side of the eye member 16 between the caps 82 and the washers 84 and relative rigidity is provided between the two members by means of the sleeve 86. The rubber washers 80 will alternately be placed in compression asthe inner end of the brake carrier 20 tends to rotate up wardly or downwardly, depending upon the direction of rotation of the wheel as the brakes are applied. The fulcrum point for this slightly r0.- tational movement is of course the bearing point of the brake carrier 20 on the sleeve 56.

, The dead lever 88 is supported through pivotal connection as at 90 from the outer end of the brake carrier 20 and the lower end of the dead lever 88 is connected .to the straps 92 through a pivotal connection as at 94 which is made adjustable by means of the plurality of holes 98 in the straps 92. At their inner ends the straps 92 havea pivotal connection as at 98 to the live brake lever I00 which is suspended from the brake carrier 20 by the link I02 which is pivotally connected to the carrier 20 as at I04 and to the live brake lever I00 as at I06. The upper end of the live brake lever I00 is pivotally connected as at I08 to a push rod I I0 whichis operatively connected in the usual manner to a brake cylinder v(not shown). This brake cylinder may be attached to the car body or secured to the truck frame.

Brake shoes 2 and -I I4 are secured at intermediate points to the live brake lever I 00 and the dead brake lever 88, respectively, by pivoting connections as at II6 and H8. The brake shoes H2 and H4 may be provided with the flanges I20 to insure more positive alignment with the rim portion 55 of the auxiliary wheel or drum member 54.

In application of the brakes it will be apparent from the drawings and description that actuation of the push rod IIO by the application of power to the cylinder associated therewith will. give counter-clockwise rotation to the live lever I00 about the pivot point I06, thus applying the brake shoe .2 against the braking surface of the rim 55. Continued movement of the live lever I00 causes pivotal movement thereof about the point II8, moving the straps 92 to the right and rotating the dead lever 88 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot point 90 thus applying the brake shoe II4 to the opposite side of the auxiliary wheel or drum member 54.

The brakes may be released by actuation of the push rod H0 in the opposite direction. This release movement may be accomplished by any well known release mechanism or by the application of power to the brake cylinder in the reverse direction.

In 'Figures 6 and 7, I have shown my novel brake equipment as applied to a friction type of wheel and axle assembly. The truck I22 is of conventional passenger type form, having the side rails I24 with pedestal columns I26 and I28 designed to cooperate with the associated journal box I30 which serves as a housing for the journal end I32 of the axle I84. In order to simplify the structure shown, I have omitted showing in these figures the conventional form of equalizer similar to that shown in Figure 1, one end of which cooperates with the top of the journal box at the point I35 and the other end of which is associated with an adjacent journal 'box in a similar manner as generally shown in the similar truck structure of Figure 1.

I may use the standard method of connecting the journal box to the journal portion of the axle through a wedge and a journal brass (not shown), my purpose here being simply to show the method of associatingmy novel brake system with such a truck.

As shown, the wheels I ,86 are pressed upon the ends of the axle I34 and secured thereon by the usual press fit. I have shown a novel design of wheel having an elongated hub portion I38 machined on its outer surface for the reception of the drum or auxiliary wheel I40 provided for braking purposes. The brake drum I40 is somewhat similar in form to the wheel proper, having ahub portion I42, a plate portion I ll and the rim I45. The drum I40 may be pressed into position on the hub of the wheel in abutment against the shoulder N8. It will be understood, of course, that this drum might be pressed directly upon the axle itt instead of as here shown upon the extended hub portion I38 01 the wheel I36.

The dead truck lever, Ii'od is pivotally hung as at Idl from the bracket I52 on the outer end of the truck frame and pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends as at I153 by the straps ltd to an intermediate point of the opposing live truck lever I56 as at 558. The live truck lever use is pivotally connected at its upper end as at ItIl to the pull rod 662 which may be actuated by the usual operating means such as a power cylinder (not shown). The hanger HM is pivotally connected as at ltd to the side rail lid and at its lower end is pivotally connected as at let to the brake head I'm which likewise is connected to the live lever we at the pivotal point ltd. At the opposite side of the wheel the brake head Ilt isspivotally connected as at lid to the lower end of the dead lever ihil, brake shoes i'llb are associated with the brake heads and arranged for braking contact on the opponte sides of the braking drum Md. The brake heads and theirassociated shoes are held in. proper adjustable relation to their respective brake levers and the associated wheel by the bracket arm Ild which houses theeoil spring IdIl.

In operation, actuation of the pull rod let to the right as shown in Figure 6 by means of a power mechanism such as a brake cylinder (not shown) results in clockwiseerotation of the live truck lever I56 about the pivot Ifit, forcing the brake head I10 and its associated shoe against the adjacent rim I46 of the brake drum Md. Further actuation causes .a pivotal movement of the dead truck lever I50 in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivotal point IEI, operative movement being transmitted from the live lever I56 to the dead lever I50 by means of the straps I54. This counter-clockwise movement of the dead lever I50 applies the brake head I'll and itsassociated brake shoe to the opposite side oi the rim I46. Actuation of the pull rod I82 in the Opposite direction by the power means referred to releases the brakes, moving the parts in the opposite direction to that just mentioned.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown, which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

.I claim:

1. In a railway truck, the combination of a truck frame including a side frame member and an equalizer, a wheel and axle assembly including an axle journal, a brake carrier. secured .at one endto said equalizer and mounted adjacent its opposite end on said journal, and brakes hung from said brake carrier.

2. In a railway truck, the combination of a truck frame including a side frame member and said wheel an equalizer, a wheel and axle assembly including an axle journal, a brake drum mounted on said wheel and axle assembly, a brake carrier secured at one end to said equalizer and mounted adjacent its opposite end on said journal, and brakes hung from said brake carrier.

3. In a railway truck, the combination of a truck frame including a side frame member and an equalizer, a wheel and axle assembly including an axle journal, a brake drum mounted on said wheel and axle assembly; a brake carrier secured at one end to said equalizer and mounted adjacent its opposite end on said journal, and brakes hung from said brake carrier, said brakes including brake shoes supported at each side of said drum for braking thereagainst.

a. In a railway truck, the combination of a truck frame including a side frame member and an equalizer, a wheel and axle assembly including an axle journal, a brake drum mounted on said wheel and axle assembly, a brake carrier secured at one end to said equalizer and mounted adjacent its opposite end on said journal, and brakes hung from said brake carrier, said brakes including a live lever, a dead lever, and brake shoes mounted intermediate the ends of said levers.

5. In a railway truck, the combination oi a truck frame including a side frame member and an equalizer, a wheel and axle assembly including an axle journal, a brake drum mounted on and axle assembly, a brake carrier secured at one end to said equalizer and mounted adjacent its opposite end on said journal, and brakes hung from said brake carrier, said brakes including a dead lever supported at the outer endof said carrier. a live lever supported adjacent the opposite end of said carrier and straps conmeeting said levers.

6. In a railway truck, the combination oi a truck frame including a side frame member and an equalizer, a wheel and axle assembly including an axle journal, said wheel and axle assembly, a brake carrier secured at one end to said equalizer and mounted adjacent its opposite end on said journal, brakes hung from said brake carrier, said brakes ineluding a dead lever supported at the outer end .or said carrier, a live lever supported adjacent the opposite end of said carrier, straps connecting the lower ends of said levers, and brake shoes mounted intermediate the ends of said levers. v

'7. In a railway truck, the combination of a truck frame including a side frame member and an equalizer, a wheel and axle assembly including an axle journal, a brake drum mounted on said wheel and axle assembly, a brake carrier secured at one end of said equalizer and mounted adjacent its opposite end on said journal, brakes hung from said brake carrier, said brakes including a dead lever supported at the outer end of said carrier, 9. live lever supported adjacent the, opposite end of said carrier, straps connecting the lower ends of said levers, and brake shoes mounted intermediate the ends of said levers for engagement with said drum.

a brake drum mounted on- 8. In a railway truck, the combination of a truck frame including a side frame member and an equalizer, a wheel and axle assembly including an axle journal, a brake drum mounted on said wheel and axle assembly, a brake carrier secured.

at one end to said equalizer and mounted adjacent its opposite end on said journal, brakes hung from said brake carrier, said brakes in- 1- carrier.

eluding a dead lever supported at the outer end of said carrier, a live lever supported adjacent the opposite end of said carrier, straps connectingthe lower ends of said levers, and brake shoes mount ed intermediate the ends of said levers for engagementon opposite sides of said drum.

9. In a railway truck, the combination of a truck frame, a wheel and axle assembly including projecting axle ends, brake drums mounted on said assembly exteriorly of and adjacent the wheels thereof, brake carriers journaled on said axle ends and clasp brake means supported on .said carriers.

10. In a railway truck, the combination of a truck frame, a wheel and axle assembly including a projecting axle end, a brake carrier journaled on said axle end and provided with lateral thrust flanges, said flanges serving as the sole means for transmitting lateral thrusts between said truck frame and said wheel and axle assembly.

11. In a railway truck, the combination of a truck frame, a wheel and axle assembly including projecting axle ends, brake drums mounted on saidassembly exteriorly of and adjacent the wheels thereof, brake carriers journaled on said axle ends and clasp brake means supported on said carriers, said means including dead levers supported at the outer ends of said carriers, live levers supported adjacent the opposite end of brake shoes carried intermediate the ends of said levers.

12. In a railway truck the combination of a,

truck frame comprising an equalizer, a brake carrier supported from said frame, a wheel, and axle assembly including brake drum, and clasp brake equipment hung from said carrier and cooperating with said drums.

13. In a railway truck the combination of a truck frame comprising an equalizer, a brake carrier supported from said equalizer, a wheel and axle assembly including brake drums mounted exteriorly of the wheels, and clasp brake equipment hung from said carrier.

14. In a railway truck the combination of a truck frame comprising an equalizer, a brake carrier supported from said equalizer and having lateral thrust flanges, a wheel and axle assembly including brake drums, and clasp brake equipment hung from said carrier. 1

15. In a railway truck the combination of a truck frame comprising a side member, a brake carrier having one end supported therefrom from said member, a wheel and axle. assembly including brake drums, and clasp brake equipment sup ported from said carrier and cooperating with said drums.

16. In a railway truck the combination of, a

truck frame comprising a side member, a brake carrier having an end supported from said member, a wheel and axle assembly including brake drums, and clasp brake equipment supported from said carrier, said drums being mounted'on said assembly exteriorly of the wheels thereof.

truck-frame, abrake carrier comprising thrust flanges and having an and supported .from'said truck frame. a wheel and axle assembly including a truck frame comprising, a side member, a brake carrier having an end supported from said mem equipment hung from said her, and clasp brake said carrier, connections between said levers, and

17. In a railway truck, the combination-of s' 18. In a railway car truck the combination of 2 19. In a railway car truck, a truck frame comprising an equalizer, a brake carrier having an endv supported fromsaid equalizer, and clasp brakes hung from said carrier.

20. In a railway car truck the combination of a truck frame comprisinsmn equalizer, a brake carrier supported from saidequalizer, and a wheel and axle assembly having brake mounted thereon. 21. In a railway car truck, a truck frame comp m equalizer, a brake carrier having an en supported from said equalizer, and a wheel and axle assembly including a brakedrum mounta truck frame comprising an equaliser, a'brake carrier having an end from said equaliser. and a wheel axle-assembly haying brake. drums mounted thereon outw'ardlyof the wheels: 23. In a railway car truck the combinatiom of a truck frame comprising an equalizer, a brake carrier having an end supported from said equslizer, and a wheel and axle assembly having brake drums mounted thereon outwardly of the wheels,

said carrier having flanges ,for transmitting lat-" ,erslthrusts between said assembly and said frame.

24. In a railway car truck the combination of a truck frame comprising a side member, a brake carrier having an end supported from said me m-v her, and a wheel and axle assembly having brake f ums mountedthereon outwardly of thewheels'.

25. The combination of a railway car truck comprising a truck frame, a brake carrier having an-end supported from said'frame, and a wheel and axle assembly having brake drums mounted thereon outwardly. of the wheels, said carrier having flanges for transmitting lateral thrustbetween said assembly and said frame.

2.6. The combination of a'railway car truck comprising a truck frame having an equalizer, a

wheel and axle assembly having a projecting journal end, a brake drum mounted on said wheel and axle assembly, and a brake carriensupported at one end from said equalizerand adjacent its opposite end on said journal' end. I

27. The combination of a. railway car truck comprising a truck frame having an equalisena wheel andiaxle assembly having. a. projecting journal end, a brake drum mounted on said wheel and axle assembly and brake supporting means supported atone end from said equaliser and adjacent-its opposite end on'said journal end,

and clasp brake equipment supported from said.

carrier for cooperation with said drum.

28. The combination ofa railway truek-com-- I prising a truehfrar'ne, a wheel and axle assembly, a carrier-having an end supported from said truck frame and being 'suppoi'tedadjs'cent itsopposite end on -said assembly, and clasp'br'ake' equipment-supported from said carrier.

29 The combination of a railway truck com prisinga truck frame, a wheel and axle assembly, a brake carrier having an end supported'from said truck, frame and-being supported adjacent its opposite end on said assembly, and clasp brake" equipment including live and dead levers supported from said carrier at flflmsite sides of said bly. I v

30. In a railway car truck the combination of a truck frame comprising an equalizer, a brake carrier end supported from said equal-- carrier having an end supported from said equalizer, and clasp brake equipment hung from said 'brake carrier, said brake equipment comprising live and dead levers, eachof said levers having a brake head supported intermediate the ends thereof. 7

32. In a railway car truck the combination of a truck frame, a wheel and axleassembly, a brake carrier having an end supported from said frame and mounted on said assembly adjacent its opposite end, and clasp brake equipment hung from said carrier.

83. In a railway truck of the outboard type the combination of a wheel and axle assembly having projecting axle ends, a truck framework supported on said axle ends and comprising a side member, a memberpivotally movable relative to said side frame, a brake disk mounted on said assembly exteriorly of and adjacent a wheel thereof, and clasp brakes supported from said movable member and operatively engaging the exterior surface of said disk on opposite sides thereof.

34. In a railway truck of the outboard type the combination of a wheel and axle assembly having projecting axle ends, a truck framework supported on said axle ends and comprising a side frame, a member pivotally supported in relation to said side frame, a brake disk mounted on said assembly exteriorly of and adjacent a wheel thereof, and clasp brakes supported from said member and comprising a dead lever, alive lever and brake shoes hung from each of said levers and engaging the perimeter of said disk.

35. In a railway truck of the outboard type the combination of a wheel and axle assembly having projecting axle ends, a truck framework supported on said axle ends and including a side frame, a member supported for pivotal movement relative to saidside frame, a brake disk mounted on said assembly exteriorly of and adjacent a wheel thereof, and clasp brakes supported from:

said member and comprising a dead lever, a live lever and brake shoes hung from each of said levers and engaging the perimeter of said disk.

36. In a railway truck of the outboard type the combination of a wheel and axle assembly having projecting axle ends, a truck framework ,supported on said axle ends and including a side frame, a member supported on said assembly for pivotal movement relative to said side frame, a

brake disk mounted on said assembly exteriorly projecting axle ends, ,a truck framework sup-.

ported on said axle ends and comprising a side frame, a\member supported on said assembly and having pivotal movement relative to said side frame, a brake disk mounted on said assembly adjacent a wheel thereof, clasp brakes supported from said member and comprising a dead lever,

a live lever, and straps joining said levers inwardly and outwardly oi said disks. Y

38. In a railway truck of the outboard type the combination of a wheel and axle assembly having projecting axle ends, a truck framework supported on said axle ends, a member supported on said assembly for pivotal movement relative to said framework, a brake disk mounted on said assembly, and clasp brakes supported from said member, said brakes including a live lever, a dead lever, straps connecting said levers, and brake shoes hung from said levers and engaging opposite sides of said disk.

39. In a railway car truck the combination of a wheel and axle assembly, a truck frame comprising a side frame, a member supported on said assembly for pivotal movement relative to said side frame, a brake drum supportedon said assembly exteriorly of a wheel, and clasp brake equipment hung from said member and having cooperation with said drum.

40. In a railway car truck the combination of a truck framework including a side frame, a

ALFRED H. owns. 

